Halloween Fun...The Finale

A whole week of spooktacular activities for the Cook family:

Picking out a pumpkin at the patch.

Toddler Halloween party at our local park.  

It was SO fun!!

Pumpkin carving lasted about 5 minutes.

Nate decided he'd rather put a puzzle together in his room. 

Maybe next year...

This trick-or-treater is ready to hit the neighborhood.

Bring on the candy!

Story: Nate liked handing out candy to the kids at our door the first 2 or 3 times, then he saw a teenager dressed as a scary skeleton and he burst into tears. After that, he'd cry when the doorbell rang. Later on, after we finished handing out our candy and he was taking a bath, Nate kept saying "no kids." I had to convince him the kids were at home, in bed, and the costumes were put away. Poor little guy. By the way, if you're a teenager and you can afford your own cell phone, I think you can buy your own candy at the store and leave trick-or-treating to the little kids. Just sayin'.

We hope you had a fun and safe Halloween!

Five Years Strong

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:

If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Halloween Fun...The Beginning

Nate's pre-preschool class had a Halloween party today. The kids came in costume and we walked around the recreation center and "trick-or-treated" at various classrooms. Then we had a mini-party with cookies and juice.

Old MacDonald is all ready to party! I was so happy that he kept his hat hanging on his back...I knew he would never wear it so this was a good compromise!

They don't look very excited, do they?? This was right after we went trick-or-treating so maybe they were tired -- or bored.

Moms taking pictures of the little goblins.

I hope Nate likes his costume because he's got to wear it 3 more times BEFORE Halloween!!  It's already a little worn out after today's excitement -- the farm animal patches are coming off the legs -- boo hoo.

The Veggie War - We're Losers

What did parents do 25 years ago 

when they had to feed their children ACTUAL vegetables?  

Picture a World without Picture Books

 Can this article be true? The New York Times is reporting here that the popularity of picture books is diminishing and that more younger children are reading chapter books. Sad but not surprising once you factor in the rising pressure of younger children to be more advanced in their studies by Kindergarten. I think we'll still be a picture book pushing family. I have really, really enjoyed the books we've been reading with/to Nate. It's almost like having a second childhood -- for example, I only discovered Don Freeman's gem, Corduroy, this year (I know, what rock have I been hiding under?!).  What is your favorite picture book?

Seriously??

The Haves and the Have Nots....

While some people are struggling to put food on their table, I suppose there's also got to be somebody out there who can easily drop $360 on recliners for their toddler.  Yeah, not me.

I am man. Make fire. Burn stuff.

Every time I open the garage, Nate runs immediately to the bag of charcoal, points to the Kingsford man and yells out "Daddy!!!"  If that doesn't make Lee feel manly, I don't know what will....

Pillow Talk

New pillows in the living room.  Both soft and squishy.  Both thrown all over the house by a little boy named Nate.  One pillow made of $9 fabric purchased at Joann's.  The other, made out of an 88-cent dishtowel from Ikea.  Which is which??? :)

Okay, you got me....I love the red stripes of the dishtowel.  I had to double up my stitches on each side of the pillow because, obviously, a dishtowel is a very loose weave and it started to unravel right away.  Consider that my tip to you.  The "Cook" comes courtesy of an iron-on I printed on my inkjet. 

Here's a close-up of said pillow and dishtowel #2 -- what should I do with this one??

I'm linking to these parties: Tatertots and Jello, Keeping It Simple, The Girl Creative, and Making the World Cuter.